How to Knit a Small Hat
Knitting a small hat to fit a child or small adult is not difficult. The rolled brim hat adjusts to fit different small head sizes (19 inches to 21 inches circumference), and the pattern is adjustable for larger heads. It's a quick pattern that shouldn't take more than one to two hours for the experienced knitter and three to four hours for the beginning knitter. For the beginner, this pattern helps perfect the knit stitch and how to use circular and double pointed needles. For the experienced knitter, this is the starting point for more creative hats, which may include stripes of color, or different stitches.
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Things You'll Need
- 1/16-inch circular needle, size #6
- Size #6 double pointed needles
- One skein of worsted weight yarn
- Markers
- Darning needle
Instructions
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1
With the 16-inch circular needle, cast on 90 stitches. Place a marker next to the last stitch. The purpose of the marker is to distinguish between the beginning and ending of rounds. Join to knit in the round. Knit every round for 5 3/4 inches. For the experienced knitter, consider changing colors at the beginning of a round and create a striped hat.
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2
Decrease the top of the hat. For round one, knit 13 stitches and then knit two stitches together. Repeat to the end of the round. There will be 84 stitches on the needle. For round two, knit the whole round. For round three, knit 12 stitches and then knit two stitches together. Repeat to the end of the round. There will be 78 stitches on the needle. For round four, knit the whole round. Continue with this pattern until there are 48 stitches remaining.
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3
Change to double pointed needles. Knit a round using double pointed needles instead of the circular needle. Change to another double pointed needle once you have 16 stitches on the first double pointed needle. Use up the stitches on the circular needle. You will have three double pointed needles with sixteen stitches on each needle to complete the round. The fourth needle is to knit the sixteen stitches from the first needle. Knit the 16 stitches off the needle, take the empty needle and knit off the next 16 stitches. Continue in this manner to knit in the round with double pointed needles.
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4
Continue to decrease. Decrease every round, instead of every other round. Decrease until there are a total of six stitches left on the needles. Leave 12 inches and cut the yarn. Using the darning needle, draw the yarn through the remaining stitches. Pull together and weave through the remaining yarn on the inside of the hat. Add a pompom for a girl's hat.
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Tips & Warnings
When joining yarn for the first circular round, give a tug to the yarn to help close up any gaps. For a larger hat, use #7 or even # 8 circular needles. Change length from 5 3/4 inches to 6 or 6 1/2 inches before decreasing.
Be careful not to twist the yarn when you join it for the first round of knitting.
Resources
- Photo Credit Pauline Gill
